Usually the term homunculus brings
to mind the name of Paracelsus who proposed
a spiritual homunculus. However, Paracelsus' proposal was limited in scope
to an alchemical operation. The term of homunculus possesses a broader definition;
it may be either a spiritual or physical entity. The physical homunculus
is deliberately created by occult or magical means combining both human
and spiritual efforts. The physical homunculus usually has a human form
created through sexual intercourse between a human and a spiritual entity.
The type of creation always involves KundaliniShakti which is always at the root of human
(Kundalini) energy.

It is uncertain whether angels, demons, and spirits possess physical
bodies, spiritual bodies, or spiritual bodies that appear to be physical.
Such confusion exists because of the tremendous influence which spirit exert
over human preceptors. The examples are that Biblical angels were believe
to have bodies of flesh and blood; Egyptian haunting ghost-precursors to
the European vampires-were though to be physical; and the medieval as well
as the current incubi and succubi
were thought to be physical by those with whom the made love with.

There existed a strong belief in elves, dwarfs, pixies, and fairies by
country people until recent centuries, many believed they were physical.
Many theorized fairies as physical or human-like beings, possibly being
or coming from an indigenous human race. Extending such theorization further
back in time it could include the legend of the fallen angels who married
the daughters of men teaching then husbandry and the art of warfare (see
Book of Enoch). This coincides with
the theory that humankind developed increased intelligence either through
mating or evolution. Even today tales exist of this indigenous race existing
in northwestern Europe before migrating to the United Kingdom.

Evidence of this indigenous is extremely shakily at best. The Devil's
presence at the witch's Sabbat is a prime
example. The witch's testimonies taken during their European trials at the
inquisition were at least questionable (see Malleus
Maleficarum). The eyewitness accounts recorded within the transcripts
even if extracted by threats or torture render it impossible to verify the
Devil, or Horned God, was impersonated by
a physical man or a spirit impersonating a physical man. Not only one must
consider the possibility of threats and torture but the mental state of
the various witches on trial. Many it would seem might have confessed under
duress, but some may have truly believed they met with the Devil, had sexual
intercourse with him, and served him. Also, they may have sought to impress
this upon their inquisitors knowing they had no friends with the Church
or the passive congregation surrounding them.

Even legendary vampires fall within this category of uncertainty of being
completely spiritual, completely physical, or a combination of both. Originally
the vampire was thought to be a physical fiend only later in lore was it
spiritualized. Still in myth the vampire is held to be an animated corpse
able to discard his materialism at will to turn into a vapor, a corpse casting
no reflection.

Another example in this category of uncertainty of spiritual or physical
is the changeling, the fairy child for
the human child. Usually this happens so the fairy child is nurtured by
the human mother. The changeling is practically identical to the human stolen
child who is taken to a fairyland except it can be detected by key features
such as laughing knowingly, giving sly looks, having a malicious temperament,
speaker in a deeper than normal voice, having a voracious appetite, and
greater than human strength.

The changeling is the nice term for homunculus, the amalgam of a human
child and a spirit child. Such amalgamation would be the product of sexual
intercourse between a human and a spirit many do not believe this is possible
and those who do never speak of it as a loving sexual union. However, fairies have sexual relations with human beings
and even marry them. Children and even entire generations descending from
such unions are said to have been born of a human man and a fairy woman.
Such events are surrounded by the legend of the "wicked fairy godmother,"
symbolic of Lilith, the mother of demons.

This is another example between classical and Western thought. Anyone
born of a supernatural deity and a human being in classical Greece was usually
as a hero, Hercules,
for example, born of Zeus
and Alcmene according to one legend. However, what is worth noting is the
honor given to Hercules and his feats. By contrast Christianity
tends to shun any sexual relationship between human and supernatural. At
one time it was thought incubi children were produced though a demonic version
of the Virgin Birth, resulting in a
round of name calling. One example was a Father Ludovico Sinistrari called
"that damnable heresiarch Martin
Luther" a well-known example of a devil-begotten man. Luther seemed
no more charitable since he said that all odd-looking children should be
destroyed at birth, for they were clearly the offspring of demons. It should
not be forgotten that incubi is a another name for lilim,
children of Lilith. A.G.H.